Wren was about to head down to his bedroom when his mom stopped him. ‘We need to tell Ty,’ she whispered. ‘You know how close he is… was… to Olivia.’

Ty was sitting on the couch. The TV was on, but he was gazing blankly at the wall above it. The sound was off.

‘Ty, honey? We need to talk to you.’ His mom sat down on the couch beside him, Wren on the other side and Billy leaning up against the door frame.

‘You don’t have to tell me, I already know,’ he said so quietly that Wren had to lean sideways to hear him.

‘What did you say, Ty?’ he asked.

‘Olivia.’ He whispered her name and Wren felt a chill travel the length of his body. ‘She’s dead.’ He said it so matter-of-factly.

Wren looked at his mom. They knew better than to question where he’d overheard the news. Sometimes Ty just knew things. Sometimes ahead of time, sometimes you didn’t have to tell him, he just knew stuff. It could be coincidence; make enough guesses and you’re bound to be right every now and then, but it was spooky nonetheless.

‘I’m so sorry, buddy. Yeah, she passed away last night. I know you loved her. We all did,’ Wren said.

Suddenly Ty launched himself at Wren, who caught him easily in his arms.

Ty was crying as he said, ‘I don’t want you to die too, Wren.’ Wren caught the worried look on his mom’s face.

Wren felt the cold prick of sweat on the back of his neck. What the hell was his brother saying? That he was worried he’d do something stupid or that he was actually going to die?

‘Ty, why’d you say that?’

‘I don’t know,’ he said, looking contrite at his outburst. Maybe Wren had heard him wrong, but he knew he hadn’t, and it scared him.

‘I’m going back to bed,’ Wren announced quietly as he stood up. His mom grabbed for his hand as he walked past, but he moved from her reach. She looked wounded, but Wren didn’t have the energy to care. He walked past Billy, who said nothing. Normally he would have put him in his place gently about brushing off his mother. He did everything gently, but not today; he didn’t say a word.

He fell asleep almost immediately and, of course, he dreamed of her. Olivia. He was watching her as she slipped under the water, her last breath bubbling to the surface. He woke up in a cold sweat. Had she thought of him? Of how he hadn’t helped her? Or was her last thought a loving one?